The Ceanothus griseus shrub may exceed two meters-6 feet in height when mostly erect, or it can grow wider than tall.

The evergreen leaves are ribbed and have slightly serrated edges and fuzzy undersides.

The inflorescences are borne on thick stalks a few centimeters long and are dense with small blue or purple flowers.

This Ceanothus is endemic to California, where its distribution extends throughout the Coast Ranges in the northern two thirds of the state.

The species and cultivars are widely available in the horticulture trade for conventional and native plant habitat gardens.